The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-10-27
STORNfING M,ELWAINES HILL.
A Chapter From the Unwritten History Of
the War.

>eS~-s'
A Chapter From the Unwritten History Of
the War.
Captain ". S. Dunlop in AJJcuiuc Medium.
About 10 o'clock P. m., March 9th,
1865, while actively engaged in rear.
ranging the picket line in front of the
brigade, some three miles west of Peters
burg, I was summoned to appear, in,
stanter, at brigade headquarters.
Having obeyed the summons, I was
informed by the brigade commander that
the commanding general had directed
Lieutenant General Hill, at all hazards,
to dislodge the enemy's forces, now
strongly entrenched, from their position
on the McElwaine hill, and that this
must be done before daylight in the
morning; that the four battalions of
sharpshooters of Wilcox's Light Division
had been selected and assigned to that
duty; and that, in the event of success,
each survivor of the engagement should
be rewarded with thirty day furlough.
Accordingly at about 2 o'clock on the
morning of the 2Sth, the battalion under
my command moved out to point on
the Boydton plankroad directly in front
of the McElwaine hill, where, in short
time, the several battalions Of the light
division assembled. Upon consultation
of the several commanders it was deter
mined, by mannuvre, coup de main, to
assault the centre of the enemy's position
in solid order of battle, with Wooten's
North Carolina battalion on the right
and Dunlop's South Carolina battalion
on the left, in front, covered and sup
ported by Young's North Carolina and
Is Georgia battalion. Having pierced
the enemy's centre, it was further deter
mined that the two leading battalions
should change direction, Wooten to the
right and Dunlop to the left, and sweep
the enemy's lines from the hill; in the
meantime the two supporting battalions
were tc move up and occupy the crest of
the ridge, as basis for future operations,
in defense Of the position carried, should
the enemy attempt to recover the hill,
and upon whose right and left the two
leading battaliona, as soon as the hill
was cleared, were to return and form.
The lights on our picket line were
gradually extinguished in our front, so
that our movements could not be discov-
cred and the chances of success placed at
a greater hazard by notice to the enemy
of our designs against their position.
Every precaution to conceal our move
ments having been taken, and everything
being in readiness at about 5 o'clock the
column moved to the attack. The
silence of death settled down upon the
dark valley which intervened between
the two lines of battle-the blue and the
gray-as this little band of six hundred
Confederates sailed forth with stealthy
step and undaunted courage to encounter
a force five times their number, in
strong position, we'll fortified, and the
scene of deadly yet successful contest
on the preceding day. Slowly and
steadily and with the most perfect order
of alignment the Confederates advanced.
When within one hundred yards of the
Federal breastworks, we encountered
deep ditch, densely hedged on both sides
with briars and thorns, into which,
without hesitation, each and every man
let himself down and crawled out on the
opposite side, and took his place in line.
Within but few moments delay to rec
tify the alignment, the advance was con-
tinued undiscovered until the leading
battaliops reached point not exceeding
twenty yards from the Federal lines.
Now nerved with sense of the right
eousness of their cause and their own
native grit, and conscious that their
movements were observed, with bated
breath, by their comrades On the hills
behind them, with determination to
carry the position or die in the attempt,
this gallant band rushed upon the unsus.
pecting enemy, for q moment gfappled
with him in deadly combat, wrenched
from his grasp the dearly:won success of
the preceding day, and hurled him from
his position, reeling and bleeding, back
upon his main line.
The right battalion now changed direc-
ton to the right, the left battalion to the
left and swept the hill from centre to cir
cumference, while the supporting col
umn moved up and took position upon
the summit of the hill, and continued the
fire with deadly effect upon the broken
ranks of the retreating Federals. The
two leading battalions having cleared the
field Of every trace Of the enemy for at
least a mile on either side of the point OF
attack, now returned and took position
on the right and left of the two battal-
ions occupying the crest of the hill.
The enemy organized heavy column
at three several times during the day and
moved out to attack our position on the
hill, but such was the steadiness OF our
line and the accuracy of our fire, that be
was as many times driven in confusion
back upon the main line.
at length yielding to the conviction
that the Confederates were there to stay,
they discontinued their efforts to retake
the hill and sued for truce of sufficient
time to bury their dead.
The position was held unassisted by
the four battalions until 8 o'clock the
following night when they were relieved
by other troops, and returned to their
positions on the general line.
Tho loss Of the Consederates in this